Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has opened up about the emotional challenges she faced during her high-profile divorce from Brad Pitt. In a recent court filing related to their ongoing legal dispute over the Château Miraval estate in France, Angelina described the period as “deeply painful” for both her and their six children.
According to legal documents filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Jolie is seeking $33,000 from Brad Pitt to cover attorney fees she incurred while responding to his request for private messages connected to their property case. The actress stated that she willingly gave Brad full control of their family homes in Los Angeles and Miraval after their separation, hoping this gesture would bring peace following a “difficult and traumatic” time.
Angelina explained that she and her children — Maddox (24), Pax (21), Zahara (20), Shiloh (19), and twins Knox and Vivienne (17) — have not returned to Miraval since the split. She revealed that the estate remains closely tied to painful memories of their breakup, saying she had to immediately search for a new home for her family after leaving.
The Château Miraval property, once a symbol of their family unity, became a source of legal conflict when Brad sued Angelina for allegedly selling her stake in the estate to the Stoli Group without his consent. Jolie defended her actions, explaining that her personal savings were tied to the estate and that she had not sought alimony or financial aid from Brad Pitt since their separation.
Reflecting on the emotional significance of Miraval, Angelina said it was one of their first major joint investments, the place where they married in 2014, where she spent part of her pregnancy, and where their twins came home from the hospital. “Losing that connection so suddenly was heartbreaking,” she said, adding that it was particularly hard for their children to experience such a disruption in their lives.
Her lawyers stated that despite multiple attempts to have Brad withdraw his motion, he refused, forcing Angelina to request reimbursement for her legal expenses. The former couple, who separated in September 2016, were declared legally single in April 2019, but continue to be engaged in ongoing property and custody disputes.